Toronto FC 1-1 NY Red Bulls: Early Goal Explosion Ends In Drab Draw

After an emotional victory at home against DC United, it was time for the Red Bulls to keep on marching along and trying to stay level or go past United for the lead in the Eastern Conference Table. But the next task at hand was a trip to BMO Field and facing a different Toronto FC side.

Amazingly in this one all draw all of the goals came in the first seven minutes of the match and the rest of it was either good defense, or just missing the next tally by inches. But one thing is for sure is that certain players who did well against DC, continued to do so against Toronto FC.

It was on a goal kick in the 4th minute when Ryan Meara waived away Wilman Conde who wanted a short pass towards him. Meara sent a long goal kick deep into the Toronto side of the field and the goal came for the Red Bulls.

Dane Richards gets the ball and found an oncoming Brandon Barklage who quickly crossed it from the far side and finds Jan Gunnar Solli who was onsides and slipped in from behind the defense. Solli leapt for the ball and he struck it past Milos Kocic who never saw the ball coming.

But two minutes later it was the home side that quickly equalized. Corner was conceived by the Red Bulls and Torston Frings would set it up on the near side. When the ball was crossed, no one was marking Danny Koevermans who ran into space and headed in the chance.

From that point on there were some close calls and some not so close calls. Joel Lindpere had the best chance of the night when he sent a cross in the 44th minute that later was considered a shot. His intent was to give the ball to Kenny Cooper, but was missed. The ball did go on frame and hit the low end of the near post.

After ninety minutes the match ended as a one all draw and it would put the Red Bulls back into second place of the east as DC United took down the Montreal Impact to regain the top spot. Unfortunately for the Red Bulls Heath Pearce has picked up a right hamstring injury that could sideline him for a while.

There was no mistake when the change was made that this Canadian side was being led by new interim manager Paul Mariner once Aron Winter was relieved of his duties after a season and a half under the helm. 2-1-2 in their last five as the turnover has become positive.

While there will be some who will not be happy with this draw, it’s not the end of the world. Yes the Red Bulls should’ve done better, but you can’t take away the improvements that Toronto FC has made with Paul Mariner at the helm.

Look at the situation with the Philadelphia Union with the coaching change from Peter Nowak to John Hackworth. Sooner than later these types of games will pop up when a side that is well out of the playoff hunt, will try to fight regardless of their situation.

But at the end of the day the Red Bulls did take a point on the road and will now face the New England Revolution next week and try to break that jinx of stadiums they haven’t been successful in like Toyota Park in Chicago.